Please help me save my apartment

**UPDATE**

With this Go Fund Me and private donations from family, friends, and strangers, you have helped me raise near my total amount owing. I’m about $850 short of my end goal. Thank you SO much for helping me to save my home. I am grateful beyond words. It has not been easy to go this public with a part of my story that lead to needing this help. I am sincerely appreciative of your generosity.

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Hi, my name is Alicia and I am fundraising to stop my eviction.

Over the past year I endured what I refer to as a special kind of hardship, that seeped into all areas of my life. The nature of my situation involved living and trying to escape a physically, sexually, and psychologically abusive relationship which eventually resulted in enduring a brain injury from the other party. Charges were laid. Throughout that time the other party continued to stalk me at places of work, and attempted to break in. At times the stress and abuse prevented me from stabilizing, working, and leaving my home.

I tried to leave many times, but it wasn’t until the police imposed a no contact order, and arrested the other party multiple times, where I was able to finally take my life back.

Since that time I have been attending therapy twice a week, and seeking gainful employment.

It started with volunteering at the local community health centre at the adult drop-in program & Harm Reduction street outreach, which I am presently awaiting an interview for a paid position. I have been working part-time at two other jobs, which just started recently, and have been able recover other unpaid bills with that $. Purchasing healthy groceries was one of the first areas of improvement as well, as I hadn’t had proper meals or food at home for a long time to eat well.

One position I started in February includes working as an educator teaching k-12 students about treaties and other Indigenous knowledges. The other is working in set-up, take-down, and ushering at concerts throughout Toronto. I continue to seek full-time work determined to better my situation. It is difficult at times, given my brain injury and trauma, but I stop at nothing to make sure I can get back on my feet.

I received notice last week that I have a hearing with Tribunals Ontario where I am facing eviction.

I have lived in this apartment for almost 8 years now and this is the first time in my life I have faced this level of hardship where I am at high risk of losing my home.

It is very hard to ask for this level of help. I wish that I didn’t need to do this.

I have dreams of furthering my education and working to advocate for the rights of Indigenous children and youth. This is a small part of work that I did during my life out west many years back, and it is something I am passionate about returning to. I have always been someone who has stood up for the rights and safety of others. I found that as I endured my own challenges in this area stemming from that relationship, that I was alone and isolated, and could no longer protect myself. When I had started that relationship I was gainfully employed and happy. By the end, I had nothing left except unpaid bills, risk of losing my home, a head injury, and major PTSD. I am still slowly working at re-integrating myself into social circles, which is also extremely challenging. I mostly gain a sense of community in the work I do.

I need to save my home and get a chance to recover financially so that I can continue to strive for success, and continue my healing journey.

By asking for help I have really had to swallow my pride, and become vulnerable to others knowing my story. I recognize that there are many others out there who are also in need of help and I understand if folks are unable to do so at this time.

With fees and unpaid rent, I am looking at trying to come up with the amount owing $7433 a short window of time so that I am able to be granted ongoing access to my home.

Miigwech/thank you for your support.